Songwriting for Kids: Listening Room

I See the Moon

(sung by Josephine Cameron)

traditional

Lots of people have heard the rhyme:

I see the moon
And the moon sees me
God bless the moon
And god bless me

Well, there are many very old versions of that rhyme that have been passed down from great-grandmothers and grandfathers and moms and dads, and down the line to me and you. The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes lists some versions existing as early as 1784. That's more than 200 years ago!

The version I am singing here is a very old lullaby, written so long ago, nobody can remember who wrote it. I love this song because it reminds us that even when we are far away from people that we love, there are still things we can share. If my best friend travels to another country, we can still look outside and see the very same moon. Pretty cool, if you ask me! Here are the words:

Verse 1:
I see the moon, and the moon sees me
Down through the leaves of the old oak tree
Please let the light that shines on me
Shine on the one I love

Chorus (not sung until after the 2nd verse in this version):
Over the mountain, over the sea
Back where my heart is longing to be
Please let the light that shines on me
Shine on the one I love

Verse 2:
I hear a lark, and the lark hears me
Singing a song with a melody
Please let the lark that sings for me
Sing for the one I love

Chorus:
Over the mountain, over the sea
Back where my heart is longing to be
Please let the light that shines on me
Shine on the one I love

Verse 3:
I kiss a rose, and the rose kisses me
Fragrant as only a rose can be
Please let the rose that comforts me
Comfort the one I love

Chorus:
Over the mountain, over the sea
Back where my heart is longing to be
Please let the light that shines on me
Shine on the one I love